UTC wins fourth SoCon women's golf title

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Arkansas-Oklahoma State Live Blog

Don't refer to them as the Lady Mocs. Just call them champions - again.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team earned its fourth straight Southern Conference championship Tuesday, which guarantees the Mocs a spot in one of three NCAA regional tournaments.

UTC shot a 6-over-par 298 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 895. The Mocs' score, the lowest in the five years the tournament has been played at Moss Creek Country Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C., gave them a six-stroke win over runner-up Furman.

"We just took it day by day and shot for shot," coach Colette Murray said while driving home. "Everybody counted at some point, so everybody had a part to play. We're very happy."

UTC sophomore Agathe Sauzon from France earned medalist honors by shooting a 2-over 218 and defeating Mary Chandler Bryan from the College of Charleston in a playoff.

Sauzon, who joined the team at the semester break, stuck her approach shot in the playoff to within three feet of the hole and rolled in the putt to win individual honors.

"I made birdie and the other girl had a long putt," Sauzon said. "She was on the front of the green and missed.

"I'm very happy," she added. "I didn't expect that. I'm very happy and proud of this team."

Sauzon, freshman Emily McLennan and Chattanoogan Jordan Britt earned spots on the all-conference team. McLennan, who tied for fifth at 6 over, landed on the all-freshman team, and Murray was chosen coach of the year for the third time in four years.

"They did keep their composure today," said Murray, who acknowledged last week that UTC would have to win to play in the NCAA championships. "They didn't get nervous. None of this surprised me," she said. "I was proud of how they came out and how excited they were to win and what it meant to them to win."

The UTC celebration on the 18th green did not involve a PowerAde bath or any extra celebration. The Mocs needed to support Sauzon as she challenged Bryan in the playoff for medalist.

Sauzon made it look easy. As did her team.

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